At the Edge of World

I am grateful that I not only live near the ocean, but that if I choose, I can watch the sun sinking into the sea. It truly is like being at the edge of the world.

To watch the sun unimpeded from man made objects slowly disappear, leaving for a time, its evidence in the form of a palette of colors that are indescribable. 

Besides family, it would be one reason I would be hard pressed to leave the West Coast. Yes, you can see the sun set from anywhere in the world, but to see it at the edge of the world pulls my soul in a way that can't be felt in the city or even from the mountain tops. 

I would imagine that those living in the East Coast feel the same way about sunrises that I do about sunsets. But as glorious as sunrises are, for me, they don't match in majesty the same way a sunset does.

Still, I would love to experience a sunrise at the Atlantic Ocean. To watch the sun rise from the depths of the sea is a sight I long to see.  I don't know that it will be as beautiful as the sunset on the West Coast, but I wouldn't mind comparing. I would keep an open mind. 

My Kind of

Last week was my kind of week. It was a good week of work, The kind that I love, where I accomplish a lot, feel good about what I do, about the contribution I made. The kind that make me look forward to starting the day and shutting down my computer after eight hours of fulfilling my obligations.

Last week was made even better by a mid-week visit at work by Brie and Acki. The plan was to head out to the beach for some picture taking, followed by dinner

It was my kind of afternoon/evening. Two of my favorite girls, at one of my favorite beaches, during my favorite time of the year with picture perfect weather. What was not to love?

From the moment we arrived, the girls went crazy taking pictures. I loved it!

It was non-stop fun as the sun went down casting a beautiful glow on everything in sight.

I hated to leave, but by this time my bare feet had gone numb. I watched the sun disappear into the horizon, one more time before we turned to fill our growling stomaches.

It was my kind of Love.

The Evening Sky

The evening sky...It never fails to take my breath away, to draw me closer to the Lord. I wonder about all those years that went by that I missed the beauty of the moment. Even when I know that tomorrow will bring another sunset, I still can't help but want to capture the one that is before me. Even when I know that no camera will bring it the true justice that my eyes see, I still continue to try.

Imagine Light

Almost every day since the beginning of the year, I take a picture of the light. Yesterday as I started my commute was no different. Every time I think, I've had my fill, I go out into the golden hour and I am drawn into it's beauty.

It never fails to make me think of heaven, of Jesus, of what it must be like to be face to face with the Light of the World. I can see why we would fall to our knees in awesome wonder.

Because if the sun brings with it such light and beauty.

Imagine what the Son will be like.

On the Beach

My love of the beach started when I was a little girl. Often after church, my parents would pack us up and head for the beach. It was likely a form of cheap entertainment. I remember we had a wicker picnic basket that mom would fill with sandwiches or fried chicken and snacks for us. I don' t know how they had the energy to herd four children, picnic baskets, towels, two beach chairs and an ice chest from the car to the beach and back again, but somehow they did.

There was nothing like playing in the water with the waves washing over me, never knowing when one would take me by surprise and knock me off my feet. Every once and a while, one would grab a hold of me and I would come up sputtering, nostrils and mouth filled with salty water, enough so that I would run back to where my mom and dad sat until the sound of the waves would call me back again.

I remember how it never failed that we would hear certain songs, such as Sunny, as we would drive to the beach. I remember the smell of Coppertone that mom would slather on us as we impatiently clamored to get into the water. I remember that we actually had to wait 20 minutes after we ate to get back into the water. I remember the sound of the small planes that would buzz overhead with advertisements trailing behind the tail or writing words into the sky. I remember the sensation of the pull of the sand each time the water would return to sea and how that feeling would still be with me when I would take a shower later that evening.

I still love the beach, but in a different way now. It's been years since a wave has knocked me over and my favorite time to go is on cool, even cloudy days. Days when I know that there will be very few on the beach with me so that I can walk about as I please.

Drive On

We should just keep on driving, she suddenly said, out of the blue as we drove home from church yesterday. I was deep in thought, and up until that moment, our morning was off-kilter as it often is with mothers and daughters so I was startled by her words.

Drive to where, I asked, half hoping she would say New York, but half afraid she was going to say Las Vegas. I don't know why I would think that, but I did.

The desert, she replied, let's go visit Matthew. I didn't have to think twice, replying with an enthusiastic, yes. Just as I was surprised by her proclamation, she seemed surprised by my acquiescence. But why would I say, no? A chance to spend almost two hours each way in a car with my daughter with the added bonus of seeing my sunny boy, his wife and my baby love? Yes, yes, yes!

I had just one request. What, she asked. Can we stop at home to pick up my camera? I was afraid she would protest. I was surprised when she didn't. We made a promise we wouldn't take more than ten minutes in the house. We were on the freeway in less than five. She called Matt to let him know we were on our way. We were both half afraid his words would turn us around. They didn't.

It was just what we needed. At least it was just what I needed. Things I want to remember about the day:

• How we laughed at the silliest things on our way to the desert, like the woolly mammoth on the side of the hill right before Moreno Valley
• How she took a picture of the Tazo tea I bought her and posted it to Instagram, thanking me (that's my girl!)
• How handsome Matt looked when we got there (and to think I didn't get a single picture of him)
• How beautiful (but tired) Ashley looked
• How during and after lunch, Max came and climbed onto my lap without any prompting at all. Heaven on earth!
• How Brie and I snuck Max away while Matt and Ashley got some rest
• How happy Matthew's face looked when I asked him if he was looking forward to meeting his little girl soon (it's only a month away now!) and he answered with an excited yes. He's such a good daddy.
• How beautiful sunset was as we headed back home

Sunshine

I awoke to thick dark gray skies. It was cold. Colder than I could remember it ever being in April in Southern California. I warmed myself with a cup of coffee in my favorite mug. Belle stayed closed by my side.
















The rain was not like Wednesday. It was dreary, trying hard to suck everything into its mass of despair. I didn't bite. I thought it was beautiful.

After a whole day of rain, I told myself I was over the sun and skies. I told myself I didn't need to take another picture of the sun falling down towards the earth. I told myself I had better things to do with my life. 

I didn't even give it another thought, until as I was driving to the store, the sun started breaking through, beating back the thick gray clouds that had blanketed the skies all day long. I never made it to the store. Instead I basked in the start of the weekend by enjoying what the sun had to offer as penitence for being away so long.